Getting the Job

Beginning in 2015, pilots who are hired to fly with Endeavor Air will earn up to $30,000 in pilot retention payments, adding to the compensation package in place for Endeavor pilots. Under the new program, an Endeavor pilot could earn $43K in their first year flying for the airline.Continue reading

ATP has very close relationships with all of the Regional Airlines in the United States, and we recently reached out to them to ask their recruiters what they have to say to ATP flight training students as well as all of those who are considering entering the airline industry by training with ATP. We received the following reply from Republic Airways Director of Talent Acquisition Jody Scott, and I would like to share it with you:Continue reading

I am often asked by those who are interested in becoming an airline pilot why I became an airline pilot and what I liked the best about it. The first thing that comes to mind is that I was paid a good amount of money to fly for a living. And as it was in my case if you have a real passion for flying then being paid to do what you love is the best job in the world.Continue reading

ATP has been training pilots preparing for their first airline job for nearly a decade. Our Regional Jet Program focuses on making a successful transition to new hire training. We have sent over 425 pilots to the airlines in the last twelve months, thousands over the last ten years, and they have done exceptionally well in new-hire training.Continue reading

In early August, I wrote about three close friends who did their flight training with ATP and then went on to instruct for us together at our Daytona Beach Flight Training Center. Sherry Shoemake, Louis Valasquez and Vince Viorde were hired at the same time by Republic Airlines through Republic’s Pipeline Program with ATP. All three then went to Indianapolis together to begin new-hire training so they can fly the new Embraer E175’s that Republic is acquiring.Continue reading

I recently surveyed our Regional Airline partners about how long it is taking new First Officers to upgrade to Captains at their airline. Across the spectrum of regional airlines the same can be said, upgrade times are coming down. What this means is that the discussion about entry level pay in the regional airlines becomes pointless when you can expect to make Captain, along with the 50% increase in pay, in your second year of flying with your new airline.Continue reading

Three more of ATP’s finest have left to join Republic Airlines and fly their newest jet, the Embraer 175. Republic has been hiring a lot of our instructors, but this time they are three friends and they are all in the same new-hire class.Continue reading

Mesa Airlines flew their latest new E175 fresh from Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil to the ATP Jet Center adjacent to ATP’s Daytona Beach Flight Training Center to show our Instructors and Students what they will be flying soon. The aircraft is the second of 30 on order by United to incorporate into Mesa’s growing United Express fleet.

Mesa has been hiring a lot of our pilots to fly these aircraft as well as new CRJ900s that Mesa is adding to their fleet. Their rapidly expanding fleet is being flown by Mesa’s expanding group of pilots, many of whom were in training with ATP not long ago.

Joining a growing pilot group, such as Mesa’s, results in much less time spent on reserve, as well as being granted desired crew bases and aircraft sooner then anytime in the recent past. Pilots who recently left ATP to fly for Mesa are nearing upgrade to Captain within a few months, after only being there a year, and I will be writing about them soon.

Mesa has promised to bring more new E175s to our Flight Training Centers over the next few months, please come out to take a look. If you do, and want a career flying one of these marvels for a living remember that ATP can get you there and get you there first.

SkyWest Airlines has recruited ten more of ATP’s finest Instructors into the program that guides pilots from flight training with ATP directly into First Officer positions with one of the world’s largest regional airlines. SkyWest flew these Instructors to Salt Lake City to be inducted into SkyWest as employees while they continue to instruct and build flight experience at ATP.Continue reading

ATP welcomed our regional airline partner PSA Airlines to our Jacksonville Florida Headquarters to speak to pilots gathered there to hear about PSA’s recent acquisition of 30 new CRJ 900 Aircraft. It was also an opportunity for these pilots to interview with PSA Manager of Recruiting Michael Douglas as well as PSA Vice President Randy Fusi.Continue reading